Table



M. Bf PYLE Jan. 25, 1938.

TABLE Filed Aug. 5, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 M E .P 15

M. B. PYLE Jan. 25, 1938.

TABLE Filed Aug. 5, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 25, 1938 UNH'E' STAT PAENT OFFICE Claims.

The invention forming the subject matter of this application is a collapsible table provided with a false top to which the legs are secured, and which, with other elements, cooperate to lock the legs releasably in extended position.

The main object of the invention is to provide a light weight tab-1e of this character which can be readily folded and moved from one location to another for various purposes.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the detailed description thereof proceeds.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the table, with the parts thereof in extended position;

Figure 2 is a broken bottom plan view of the table, with the parts thereof in collapsed position;

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of one end of the table with the legs extended and certain supplemental locking elements in inoperative position;

Figure 5 is a ViW similar to Figure 4, but with the said supplemental locking elements in oper-' ative position;

Figure 6 is a vertical. section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a horizontal section taken on the line 7'! of Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of one corner of the table illustrating one of the aforesaid supplemental locking elements partly moved into locking position.

As shown in the drawings, the table comprises a square top 9, having the skirts It secured to its under surface and along the edges thereof. The false top or shelf 1! fits snugly within the aforesaid skirts; and is held against removal from the space defined by said skirts by the flanges l2 formed on the lower ends of straps i3, suitably secured to the inner surfaces of the skirts I!) in position to support the false top II, when the legs M of the table are in extended position.

The four legs M are hinged to the false top or shelf it and are otherwise releasably secured as hereinafter described to the other parts of the table at each corner thereof, so that the legs are firmly locked in extended position when the table is in use. The shelf i is cut away at each corner to form a rectangular recess l5 to' permit the upper end of each leg to swing toward and from collapsed position. The width of the recess I5 is substantially equal to the width of the, leg

(or. alt-s1 -E5. Obviously, this length is necessary to insure the support of the shelf H on the flange 12 when the legs are in extended position; and also to permit the legs to swing through the aforesaid recesses into folded position.

The upper end of each leg M has secured thereto a snap I! adapted to fit between a pair of leaf springs 18 and I9, suitably secured to the under surface of the table top 9. The snaps I1 and the leaf springs I8 and I9 form jacks or spring locks, which hold the legs releasably in extended position. The under surface of, the table 9 has secured thereto an L-shaped stop 20 for each leg, the recess 2! of said stop having the same dimensions as the recesses 15, formed directly in the shelf I I. It will be apparent, therefore, from Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings, that the walls of the recess on each stop 2| and the spring locks constitute means for releasably locking the table legs perpendicular to the table top 9, when the legs are in extended position.

The table is provided with supplemental means for locking each leg in extended position. This means comprises small shelves 22 pivoted to the false top H in positions where they may be swung for concealment between the false and real tops of the table. Each of these small shelves 22 comprises an arm 23 secured by a pivot bolt 24 to the false top l4. Each shelf 22 is cut away at one side to form a substantially rectangular recess, having the walls 25 and 26 located to contact with the two sides of the adjacent leg I4 and lock the same in extended position; Each rotatable shelf 22 is also provided with an arcuate recess 21, the inner edge 28 of which is adapt-ed to contact with the inner surface of one of the skirts H! of the table. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the arcuate edge wall 28 is in contact with the inner surface of the skirt Ill. The shoulder 25 is in locking engagement with the rear side of the leg l4 and the shoulder 25 is in contact with one of the sides of the aforesaid leg M.

The projecting part of the shelf 22 forms a convenient means for supporting ash trays, or other small articles. As shown in the drawings, these projecting parts 29 are provided with circular apertures 30, which form seats for ash trays 3!. In order to provide additional support for these parts, the recess 2'! is shaped at its outer end to form a straight portion 32 adapted to seat in a groove 33 formed in the corner between adjacent skirts of the table. The groove 33 forms a friction lock for holding the shelf 22 in open position. It will be apparent from the drawings that when these small shelves 22 are in open position, each leg of the table will be securely locked in extended position perpendicular to the table.

It is evidently desirable that when the legs are in collapsed position as shown in Figures 2 and 3, some means should be provided for holding them releasably in such position. For this purpose, the upper end of each leg is provided with a recess 34 adapted to receive the end of the adjacent leg when both legs are in folded position. The parts are dimensioned so that when the legs are in folded position they will be yieldingly in contact with the flanges l2, by means of the rubber straps 35 which are secured across the recesses 34.

What I claim is:

1. A collapsible table comprising a substantially square top, having a skirt depending from each edge thereof, a shelf fitting snugly and slidably within the space defined by said skirts, said shelf being recessed at each corner thereof, table legs hinged between their ends to said shelf to swing into and out of said recesses and to contact with the inner surface of said top when extended, and stops on the inner surface of said top and. ,on said skirts for frictionally locking said shelf and said legs in extended position.

2. A collapsible table comprising a substantially square table top having a skirt depending from each edge thereof, a shelf fitting snugly and slidably in the space defined by said skirts, stops on said skirts to support the shelf spaced apart and parallel to said top, each corner of the shelf being cut away to form a recess having its edges parallel to the edges of the top, legs each substantially equal in length to the distance between opposite skirts and hinged between its ends to said shelf to swing about one edge of said recess, the hinge on each leg being located at a distance from one end thereof to cause that end to contact the inner surface of the table top when the legs are extended with the shelf resting upon said stops.

3. A collapsible table comprising a substantially square table top having a skirt depending from each edge thereof, a shelf fitting snugly and slidably in the space defined by said skirts, stops on said skirts to support the shelf spaced apart and parallel to said top, each corner of the shelf being cut away to form a recess having its edges parallel to the edges of the top, legs each substantially equal in length to the distance between opposite skirts and hinged between its ends to said shelf to swing about one edge of said recess, the hinge on each leg being located'at a distance from one end thereof to cause that end to contact the inner surface of the table top when the legs are extended with the shelf resting upon said stops, and stops secured to the inner surface of said table top to engage the upper ends of said legs when in extended positions.

4. A collapsible table comprising a substantially square table top having a skirt depending from each edge thereof, a shelf fitting snugly and slidably in the space defined by said skirts, stops on said skirts to support the shelf spaced apart and parallel to said top, each corner of the shelf being cut away to form a recess having its edges parallel to the edges of the top, legs each substantially equal in length to the distance between opposite skirts and hinged between its ends to said shelf to swing about one edge of said recess, the hinge on each leg being located at a distance from one end thereof to cause that end to contact the inner surface of the table top when the legs are extended with the shelf resting upon said stops, and stops secured to the inner surface of said table top to engage the upper ends of said legs when in extended positions, and supplemental locking means rotatable on said shelf for locking the legs and shelf in extended positions.

5. A collapsible table comprising a substantially square table top having a skirt depending from each edge thereof, a shelf fitting snugly and slidably in the space defined by said skirts, stops on said skirts to support the shelf spaced apart and parallel to said top, each corner of the shelf being cut away to form a recess having its edges parallel to the edges of the top, legs each substantially equal in length to the distance between opposite skirts and hinged between its ends to said shelf to swing about one edge of said recess, the hinge on each leg being located at a distance from one end thereof to cause that end to contact the inner surface of the table top when the legs are extended with the shelf resting upon said stops, and stops secured to the inner surface of said table top to engage the upper ends of said legs when in extended positions, and yielding means on said table top and the ends of said legs for holding said legs releasably in locked position.

6. A collapsible table comprising a top, skirts extending from one side of said top and forming a polygonal enclosure, a shelf fitting snugly and slidably within the space defined by said skirts, stops on said skirts to support said shelf when the table is in extended condition and table legs hinged to said shelf to fold along said skirts when the table is collapsed and to contact with said top when the table is opened up for normal use.

'7. A collapsible table comprising a top, skirts extending from one side of said top and forming a polygonal enclosure, a shelf fitting snugly and slidably .within the space defined by said skirts, stops on said skirts to support said shelf when the table is in extended condition and table legs hinged to said shelf to fold along said skirts when the table is collapsed and to contact with said top when the table is opened up for normal use, said legs being hinged to said shelf at a distance from each end equal to the distance of said stops from the table tops, to cause the ends of said legs to contact with said top when the shelf is in supported contact with said stops.

8. A collapsible table comprising a top, skirts extending from one side of said top and forming a polygonal enclosure, a shelf fitting snugly and. slidably within the space defined by said skirts, stops on said skirts to support said shelf when the table is in extended condition and table legs hinged to said shelf to fold along said skirts when the table is collapsed and to contact with said top when the table is opened up for normal use, said legs being hinged to said shelf at a distance from each end equal to the distance of said stops from the table top to cause the ends of said legs to contact with said top when the shelf is in sup: ported contact with said stops, the upper ends of said legs being recessed to receive the lower ends of adjacent legs when the table is collapsed.

9. A collapsible table comprising a top, skirts extending from one side of said top and forming a polygonal enclosure, a shelf fitting snugly and slidably within the space defined by said skirts, stops on said skirts to support said shelf when the table is in extended condition and table legs hinged to said shelf to fold along said skirts when the table is collapsed and to contact with said top when the table is opened up for normal use, said legs being hinged to said shelf at a distance from each end equal to the distance of said stops from the table top to cause the ends of said legs to contact with said top when the shelf is in supported contact with said stops, the upper ends of said legs being recessed to receive the lower ends of adjacent legs when the table is collapsed, said stop engaging said legs to hold them releasably in collapsed position.

10. A collapsible table comprising a top, skirts extending from one side of said top and forming a polygonal enclosure, a shelf fitting snugly and slidably within the space defined by said skirts, stops on said skirts to support said shelf when the table is in extended condition and table legs hinged to said shelf to fold along said skirts when the table is collapsed and to contact with said top when the table is opened up for normal use, said legs being hinged to said shelf at a distance from each end equal to the distance of said stops from the table top to cause the ends of said legs to contact with said top when the shelf is in supported contact with said stops, the upper ends of said legs being recessed to receive the lower ends of adjacent legs when the table is collapsed, said stop engaging said legs to hold them releasahly in collapsed position, and means in said recesses for holdingsaid legs yieldingly against said stops. 7

MARIE BRUCE PYLE, 

